Interference of Vibration Exposure in the Force Production of the Hand–Arm System

Abstract

The authors evaluated the short-term neuromuscular effects on the assessment of mechanical hand—arm systems induced by vibrating tools to investigate the relationship between the force exerted and the vibration exposure. The motor task consisted of holding the instrumented handle with the dominant hand at predetermined grip force values. Five subjects took part in the tests. The tests were developed in the absence of vibration and in the presence of vibration at 5 m/s2, 7.5 m/s2 and 10 m/s2. The push and pull force values were calculated in the tests on the five subjects.

Keywords

• tonic vibration reflex
• mechanical vibrations
• exhaustive motor task
• push–pull force control